Indicator for automobile gas supply



April as 580,593

T. M. EYNON INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILE GAS SUPPLY Filed March 17 1921 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 13 1926.

T. M. EYNQN INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILE GAS SUPPLY 1921 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1'7 lll patented Apr; 13, 1925.

ssues "IHOINIAS M. EYNoNpOF PL-IILADEIiII-IIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILE GAS S'tIPPLY.

Application filed March 17,1921; Serialjlfo. 453,166;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Tnoanxs IvIwIDYNON" a citizen'of the United States, residing Philadelphia, in thecounty of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Indicator for Automobile Gas Supply, of which the following is a specification. I

My'invention relates to devices intended to show the height of gasoline inan automobile tank upon an indicator located at a convenient place for observation by the automobile driver, preferably upon or near the dash-board. I I v The purpose of my invention is toprovide a relatively flat float so as to' reduce the projection of the top and bottom of the float at the limits of its travel and to more accurate indication of level. at the top and bottom of the tank Without excessive projection of the tank above or below its normal level.

A further purpose is to guide a vertically movable float by the same levers by which its lifting is made to effect the registration upon an indicator.

A further purpose is to operate a fluid height-indicator moved by a diaphragm through levers clustered about the space above the float.

v A further purp se is to 01 crate anindieating diaphragm by means of lever and link connections oi 'the lazy tongs type.

These purposes may be carried out with or without compensation for the movement of the diaphragm to avoid the effect upon the pressure or vacuum conditions within the tank.

Further purposes will appear in the specifications and in theclaims.

My invention relates both to the combination by which the movement of the diaphragm is obtained and also to the particular kind of float by which the invention is made effective.

I have preferred to illustrate my invention by one form only, selecting a form thereof which is practical, efficient, inexpensive and thoroughly reliable and which at the same time well illustrates the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a top plan skeletoned view of an automobile to which my invention is applied.

Figure 2 is a section upon line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing a preferred form of my construction.

1 Figure 3 is on line 3-8.

- In the drawin similar numerals indicate like parts. I i The automobile 5 is intended to be typical of the various-types of autoniiobiles' to all of Which my invention may be applied.

a section of Figure 2 taken up- 7 Though the invention is well suited for cars having tanks of any shape, itioifers special advantage. where the tanks are relativel high ascompared with," their length and Width. 7 I

The tank at 6 connects by a pipe 7 with any one of' 'a variety of fluid indicators 8 upon the dash 9, that the quantity or pressure of the fluid in the pipe may be indicated. 7 The-simplest i'orm of such an indi 'ator, the gauge glass, my prefe red form.

My device is not only capable oi being built into a new tank but'canalso be applied ilEOlIllG tank of an existing automobile. For

convenience in either of these, I show a removable closure 10 for an opening 11 in the tankbottom 12. The opening may be of any shape and is here circular,

The closure is intended to provide a base or support for the other parts, well suited forinsertion of the device Within an exist ing tank. However, in that case the bottom opening should be elongated or the top opening 13 should be larger than the bottom opening in order to provide conveniently for the insertion of the inner flange member The metal about the-edge of the opening is clamped between the'flanges 15' and 16 of the closure, and the parts are held together by bolts fitting into but not through nuts in the form of integral bosses or lugs 18 upon the interior flange at intervals, protecting against leakage. I

In this form I have provided a cap 19 also for the tank here shown as brazed to the tankas at 20 but which may be applied in any suitable way, as. in the ase oi the bot tom.

In order to give room for part of the float to fall below the bottom of the tank when the tank is empty and to rise above the top the bottom and the top are extended outside of the tank. This is accomplished at the bottom by means of an annular recess at 21 andatthe top by lifting the cap above the tank at 22.

The portion of the closure inside of the depression 21 is raised to form a seat for a diaphragm 2 L but is lowered beneath the diaphragm to "form a recess to which pipe 7 is connected. The seat- 2 3 is stili 'encd by a ring of metal 23 which is drilled part way through from the top and is tapped to re ceive bolts 26 by which the diaphragm-rctaining ring 27 is held in place.

The retaining ring 2'? not only holds the diaphragm tightly against its seat to seal itwith or without packing-but affords a base and support for the operating mechanism by which the diaphragm is moved. The edges (preferably the inner edges) of the ring are turned upwardly in the form of pillar or standard 30, illustrated as tubular and as slotted or cut at opposite sides at 31 and 32 to provide room for movement of lever arms hereinafter described.

At the upper end of this pillar I flare it outwardly to form an annular flange 38, which atlords a lower seat. for the diaphragm 8%, which is clamped between flange 33 and a flange 35 by means of bolts 36. Packing may be used it needed. The cover 37, integral with flange 35 provides a space 38 above the diaphragm.

The two diaphragms 24 and 3e are connected by a rod or strip 39 which may be pivoted at 40 and ll to buttons 42 and as by which the actual connection with the diaphragm is made. As a result. of the connection the diaphragms will move in the same direction with opposite effects. Then the lower diaphragm moves downwardly to increase the volume of the tank available for the gasoline, the upper diaphragm moves in the same direction to correspondingly reduce that volume, and when the lower diaphragm moves upwardly, relatively reducing the volume available for gasoline, the upper diaphragm moves in the same direction to cor respondingly increase this volume; with the purpose and effect that the capacity of the tank is unaffected by the movements of the diaphragms and is independent of them.

as a result or this my mechanism does not affect and is not affected by the pressure or vacuum conditions there and is free from error by variation of such pressure or vacuum.

Near the upper end of the column or standard 30, I provide pivots such as at at and 45 for the upper sections l6, 41:7 of any desired number of the composite. arms, preferably more than one, so that two or more of these arms together may be effective to act as guide. for a float 48 and separate guiding mechanism is notrequired. So far as mere operation of the diaphragm is concerned, a single one of these levers ll) or 457 only would be required in connection with suitable guiding mechanism to keep the float in proper direction of the movement and to operate the diaphragm or diaphragms. I find that two arms are suiiicient for the purpose of both guiding and operating the mechanism and therefore show but two.

The upper sections 16 and 4:? of these a ans are extended beyond the pivots as at 40 and 50, so as to connect with red 39 through pins 51, thrust rods or strips 52 and and pin 54-.

The upper sections 46 and 4e? con ect with the float through pins 55 and 56, lower sections 57 and 58, pins 59 and ("30 and cars 61 and 62. v

The life preserver form or float which has been shown has special advantages in the height of tank occupied. While the float has this special advantage, I recognize that the remainderof my mechanism would be operative and highly advantageous with a different :torm o'l float and that the'shape of the float does not enter into the invention as defined in some of the claims, but only where the character of the float. cooperates with the rest or the structure to require less extension above the top or below the bottom of the tank.

he hollow ring l8 is connected with the cars 61, (52 by means of a web or strip (3%.

In operation, the ring float rests within a comparatively shallow annular space at the bottom and within a comparatively shallow extension at the top, yet registers the lowest and highest levels of the gasoline in the tank. Between these limits the float moves practically in a vertical line, guided by the link-and-lever arms duplicated at the right and left in the drawiiw.

As the float moves upwardly it spreads the links 57 and 58 and the arms 46, 47,, with the result that the lever arms 49 and 50 are moved downwardly, with corresponding downward projection of the rod 39 and downward movement of both diaphragms. The device could be arranged to have either diaphragm operate the gauge. its arranged, the space 26 below the lower diaphragm is connected with the dash-board indicator by means of the pipe 7 and the system iilled with a suitable fluid. The gauge is con nected up so that diflerent heights of the gasoline in the tank corresponds to diflerent positions of the diaphragm. The gauge may indicate by direct fluid flow into a sight tube as shown, lifting the indicating liquid in said tube with pressure upon the diapln-agm, or otherwise as preferred. The effect upon the indicator will be nearly proportional to the height oi the float in the tank and any discrepancy between this and the actual height reading may be accommodated by suitably calibrating the indicator at the dashboard. This calibration how-ever, will not ordinarily be required as the operator of the car will be much more desirous of determining the approximate condition of the gasodiaphragm, and

fit

line in the tank, to learn whether or not the tank requires refilling, then he will be able to obtain an exact reading as to the quantity of gasoline in the tank. If an exact reading be desired the'calibration will reflect this.

When the height oi gasoline falls in the tank and the that drops there will be a corresponding lifting of the rod 39, lifting the l a consequent return flow'ot the fluid which had indicator at the front, or a corresponding relief of the pressure which had been placed upon the fluid in the indicating system; so that the indication system will show that there is a smaller quantity of gasoline in the tank.

In view of my disclosure herein other forms of practicing my invention will obviously occur to those skilled in the art, either better suited to the particular use intended by the designer or suiting merely his whim or preference, or for the purpose of appropriating my invention unfairly, and it is my purpose to include herein all such variations of my invention, whether securing the advantage of the invention entirely or not, come within the spirit and scope.

of my invent-ion.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Lettters Patent is 1. In an indicator system for the height of gasoline in an automobile tank, a fluid indicator, a. fluid connection therewith, a diaphragm controlling the movement of fluid in said connection, an annular float with whose the center of the diaphragm is in line, a tank for the fluid of which tank the diaphragm forms one wall and connections between the float and diaphragm whereby lifting and lowering of the float operate the diaphragm to give indication upon the indicator.

2. In an indicator system for the height of gasoline in an automobile tank, a fluid indicator, a fluid connection therewith, a dia- Plllitglll controlling the movement of fluid in said connection, an annular float with whose axis the center of the diaphragm is in line, a tank for the fluid of which tank the diaphragm forms one wall, said tank having accommodation for part oi the height of the float at top and bottom and connections between the float and diaphragm whereby lifting and lowering of the float operate the diaphragm to giveindication upon the indicator.

8. In an indicator "for the height of gasoline in an automobile tank, a fluid-operated indicator, a diaphragm, walls cooperating with it to form a compartment, fluid transmission conncctions from the indicator to the compartment, a support, a rod connected with the diaphragm, a lever pivoted at an intermediate point upon the support and been transmitted to the connected at one end with! the rod; :1 float and a link, connecting the float-with the opposite end of said lever, whereby the lift-- ing otthe float causes outward movementor" thelink and said iopposite lever end and movement of the diaphragm; 1

4. In an indicator system for the height neotion from the said levers to said diaphragm whereby the diaphragm 1S operated from said float to change the indication.

5. In an indicator for the height of gasoaoj line in an automobile tank, a fluid indicator and fluid connections, a diaphragm adapted to operate the fluid in the connections, a float, a plurality of links connected with the float, a corresponding plurality of levers having one end of each lever pivotally connected with one end of one of the links, a pillar independent of the float, pivotal support for said levers in said pillar, a rod connected with the diaphragm and connections from said levers to said rod whereby the float is guided by said levers and links and at the same time movement of the diaphragm is controlled by the height of the float. i .7

6. In an indicator system for the height of gasoline in an automobile tank, a tank, a closure for the tank having a depression and a surrounding diaphragm seat, a diaphragm uponthe seat, a standard mounted upon the closure, a float above the closure, levers carried by the standard, links connecting the levers with the float, connections between the levers and the diaphragm and a dash-board gauge operated by movement of the diaphragm.

7. In an indicator for the height of line in an automobiletank, a tank closure having a diaphragm seat and a space for liquid within the seat, a diaphragm on the seat, a standard mounted above the diaphragm, a float surrounding the standard, levers carried bythe standard, links connecting the lovers with the float, connections from the levers to the diaphragm, indicating fluid connections from the space within the seat and fluid connections from the depression to the gage.

8. In an indicator for the height of gasoline in an automobile tank, a tank closure having a diaphragm seat and a space for liquid within the seat, a diaphragm on the seat, a standard mounted above the diaphragnn a float surrounding the standard, levers carried by the standard, a second diaphragm carried by the standard, a diaphragnn thereon a cover for the diaphragm proridin a space between the diaphri :1 and cover and Connections from the leren: to operate the diaphragrns in unison.

9. in an indicator System for the height of gaeoline in an automobile tank, a tank, a diaphragm seat in the bottom of the tank hating a space provided Within the seat, a diaphragm upon the seat, a standard above the diaphragm, a ring float surrounding the standard and lever and link connections between the float and diaphragm having pivotal connection and support inthe upper part of the standard.

10. In an indicator for the height of Jasoline in an automobile tank, a ring neat links connected thereto, levers connected with the links a supgort tor the levers, diaphragnr seats above and below the lever support, diaphragins thereon, a cover for one side of each diaphragm to provide a space between the diaphragm and never, a rod connecting the diaphragrns and a connection between the rod and lovers to operate the diaphragins in unison with movement of the float.

THOMAS M. EYNON. 

